COP DRUG-BUY CASH MISSING

EVANSVILLE, INDIANA - Thousands of dollars disappeared from the
drug-purchasing fund of the Evansville Police Department while former
Vanderburgh County Sheriff Ray Hamner was chief from 1980-89, authorities
said.

The discovery, announced Tuesday, was made in the course of a probe of the
drug-buying money that disappeared from Hamner's office during his two
terms as sheriff from 1991-98.

Hamner pleaded guilty Monday to a felony theft charge. He admitted stealing
up to $58,000 from the sheriff's department's fund.